Week In Review Week in Review: light rail, Sonics, and surveillance
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Mar 27, 2026 
Erica Barnett, local policy reporter and PubliCola co-founder; Libby Denkmann, KUOW Soundside host and political commentator; Dave Ross, longtime broadcaster and civic voice. They talk about the new east-west light rail link and construction disputes. They debate upzoning, congestion pricing, and the Sonics NBA return. They grapple with stadium cameras, surveillance tradeoffs, and community protests.
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East West Light Rail Connection Changes Commute Patterns
- Light rail connecting South Bellevue to the International District finally opens after major delays and will reshape transit across Lake Washington.
- Judkins Park and Mercer Island stations add walkable access and signal decades-long development shifts around Bellevue and Seattle transit corridors.
Contractor Dispute Could Reallocate Millions
- Construction disputes can shift millions between contractor and agency, affecting final project cost and schedule.
- Kiewit Hoffman is seeking roughly $184 million from Sound Transit over plinth removal disputes tied to delays and replacement work.
Upzoning Tied Directly To New Stations
- Transit-oriented upzoning is now policy where light rail is built, forcing denser development near stations.
- HB 1110 and related rules aim to concentrate growth near stations so transit investments aren't wasted on low-density areas.